diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 8205efa..2f60078 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ RUN set -e; \
       git clone --depth 1 --branch "${GNUNET_REF}" https://git.taler.net/gnunet.git gnunet; \
       GNUNET_DIR="gnunet"; \
     fi; \
+    if [ ! -f "${GNUNET_DIR}/doc/handbook/meson.build" ]; then \
+      echo "Creating stub doc/handbook/meson.build to satisfy Meson"; \
+      mkdir -p "${GNUNET_DIR}/doc/handbook"; \
+      echo "# auto-generated stub to skip handbook build" > "${GNUNET_DIR}/doc/handbook/meson.build"; \
+      echo "subdir_done()" >> "${GNUNET_DIR}/doc/handbook/meson.build"; \
+    fi; \
     cd "${GNUNET_DIR}" && ./bootstrap && \
     ./configure --prefix=/usr && make -j$(nproc) && make install